Torque Conversion Calculator

Why in-lb matters as much as ft-lb

A lot of small-fastener specs — instrument covers, small machine screws, some setscrews — are given in inch-pounds rather than foot-pounds specifically because the torque values involved are too small to read accurately on a foot-pound wrench. 1 ft-lb = 12 in-lb exactly, so a spec of "20 in-lb" is the same as "1.67 ft-lb," just expressed in the unit that's actually practical to dial in with the right size wrench.

The Nm conversion isn't a round number

1 ft-lb = 1.355818 Nm exactly, derived from the exact definitions of the pound-force and the foot — it's not a rounded approximation, even though it doesn't look like a clean number. Most torque wrench specs from equipment built to metric standards will be given directly in Nm; converting to ft-lb or in-lb to match a US-made wrench's markings is the usual reason to reach for this calculator.